Loose-leaf post binder



Dec. 7 1926.

, C. A. FINLEY LOOSE LEAF POST BINDER Filed Jan. 5, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 his ATTORNEYS Dec. 7 1926. 1,610,218

v c. A. FINLEY LOQSE LEAF POST BINDER Filed Jan. :5, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheei? I III a 16 v 16 v H l 24 E I lNVENTOR CZaJZe6.4.FzhLey Mf/w m his ATTORNEYS V 'Patented Eco:

' CHAR-tins A. FInLEY, OF OOKLYNQN'EW YORK, essrenon 'ro "BoonUM 8; PEASE ooMPAnxor BROQKLYNLINEKV Yon A conronn'rronor'nnwYORK.

toosntner rosr BINDER. I

I npplicationfilcdil'anuary 2,1924. Serial noiea'eias.

' My invention relates to. loose leaf post binders and more particularly to post binders in which the posts project through the top clamping barl The objects of my invention are to provide a binder which is light in weight, neat in appearance, economical in manufacture, efficient in use and which can-be made in various sizes from one com inon stock of parts.

In the drawings, i o v Figure 1 is a perspective view of a binder embodying a modified form of my invention;

'Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of one end of the head of the binder;

Figure Sis a section on theline 33 of "I igure'2v; L

Figure-4t is a plan view in broken section of one end of the head of the binder;

Figure'5 is a perspective ,view of the two clamping bars with one of my seltecontained post locks shown removed; 1

Figure -6' isv=a erspective view; of the,

' clutch memberiof my post lock;

Figure 7. shows'the clutch member gripping the post,.the relation being "shown in a;

plan view and an elevation; 1

Figure 8 shows the: relation of. the clutch} member and the post when the: latter is free -to pass".,therethrough,= the relation; being shown n a plan vlew and an elevation I Figure 9 is'a perspective view disassem bledofthe preferred form of my. invention;

while 7 7 a a 1 V Fig. 10 isa longitudinalsectional eleva tion of one end of the head of thebinder containing the preferred form of lock shown in Fig. 9.

In the'typeof'binder to which Iinven tion relates, the posts on.which thesheets are threaded: project through the .upper clamping bar and. "the latter has locking means on it adapted to prevent "removal of the clamping bar unless the mechanism is 7 released; 5 i i For clamping bars I employ non metallic 7 strips 1-0 made for eXample of wood, fibre, rubber'or composition, making them thick i enough so that mypost lock" 11 can be let 'in'flush in the upper bar by simply cutting V I a separate openingtherein, such as a hole or notch, for each lock. I shall 'first describe I v o frameby a flange largerthan'and underlythe application of my invention shown in Figuresl to 8 In this form of binder the;

bar is notched as shown in Fig. 5 to receive j its top flush with the top of the bar The post lock is covered by: a casingv l2'which' canbe fastened to the-bar by rivets 13. -These rivets also serve tomake the ends of the bar rigid.-A cover 14: may be attached I to the upper clamping barby making use i {Qf hinge lugs-15*each of which form a unitaryjpart of onset the casings. For post members Ihave shown rigid sectional posts 16 screwed into sleeves 17-wh1ch -1n' turn are set into the lower clamping. bar. To'

prevent these sleeves :17 from turning "or coming out, thetip-of the sleeve is squared on two; sides, a I plate 18 fitted onto the h shoulders thus formed and the plate fasten-ed 7. to theclamping bar (see Fig. 5). These plates il8 are also employed: to formhinge lugs 19 by-whiclr'meansa-cover 20' is at- V tached to the lower bar.

The upper bar has holes 21 bored thereinto permit the posts to pass through. I find however that 'continuedremoval and, replacement of thejupper clamping bar tends ltowear away these holes 21 because the bar I is not made of metal andtherefore I prefer 8 to-put in'a metaleyelet 22 which is peaned Q over on the top and bottom of'the bar. (see Figures2 and 5).} [The independent and individual one v wa'y locks 11 for, the posts each have a frame 8 23mountedin'itscasingl2 and a swinging r clutch, 24: pivoted intheiupper partofthe I sidewalls ofthe frame; By- .a one-way lock, Imean a lock w'h-ich will permit the cover torbeipushed down ronathe papers in the binder but will not allow the cover .to be pulled off the post.- The post 16 passes througha polygonal opening 28 in one endv of theclutch, whichopening isa littlelarger than the post. This end of the clutch is heavier than .the other end. and therefore the clutch tends to assume the position I shown, in Figure 7 andggrip the post. I pre-, fer to employ a spring adapted to press the post end of the clutch down and thus 10.0 assist gravity in' keeping the clutch m-engagement with the post, and in thedraw 'ings this, is'shown as a bow spring 2.5,-(F1g.

4). On the end of the clutch opposite to the posts rests a button 26 projecting through a hole 27 a in the Irame, whichis'held,in said ingthe hole. This button, in the, illustration of the invention shown in the, drawof the locks. This feature of permitting the clutch to swing down further than is necessary to grip the post ordinarily, has the additional advantage that the clutch will grip the post even if the cover is being pushed down unevenly on the two postsso that the upper clamping bar 10 is not parallel to the dower clamping bar To put on the top cover and clamping bar, it is only necessary to thread the )ost's throu h the oaenincs in the clutch,

"frame and casing, and push the clamping bar down. The clutch'will not catch on the post while doing this because the latter tends to push it up to the horizontal positionand thus obtain the benefitof the full width of the polygonal opening 28'. However the post cannot pass downward through the clutch for the opening in the clutch would be tipped withrelation to the-post and the edges (1 have shown four) Vwouldgrip and hold the post;

It will be apparent that the more one attempts to pull the clamping bar off without releasing the clutch the more it will bind on the posts.

To release the one-way looks and remove the clamping bar, the buttons 26 are depressed, thus bringing the clutches horizontal and releasing the'posts, when the bar can be pulled'oif. Iprefer to locate the buttons between each post and the nearest end'of-th'e I clamping bar, thus permitting the operator to release the clutches and pull up the clamping 'bar all in one movement.

In "the preferred form of my invention shown 'in'Figs. 9 and 10 a round lock is employed. To apply thisform of lock to the upper clamping bar of a binder one need only bore a round hole through the bar, insert the lock from the bottom and fasten it in by screws passing through the bottom plate.- w

My invention' has many advantages over the priorart; It'do'es away entirely with metal tubes and their associated elements such asend caps, rivets, covers, etc, and

looks. I tallio bar and my novel independent locks let in flush inthe bar produces a cheap, ecomachine-like precision in spacing the posts and making them toexact size, and alsojproduces a binder in which the locks operate properly even when the binder becomes do formed. Furthermore binders of all sizes can be easily and economically made up from one common stock of bar material and The employment of a solidnon-me nomioal and handsomebinder which has no prO ectmg' parts of any kind and 1S convenient to operate.

' I claim 1. In a loose leaf post binder, a solid clamping "bar and posts adapted to project therethrough, in combination with an independent lock for each post associated 'with saidelamping bar, and a' hinge lug unitary with said look. i

2. In a loose leaf post binder, a solid clamping bar and posts adapted to project therethrou gh, in combination with an inde pendent lock for each post'let in substantially flush in said clamping bar, and a hinge lug unitary-with each lock.

A loose leaf 'post'binder, having a solid clamping bar and posts adapted to project therethrough, in coi'nbination with an independent One-waylockfor each post let in substantially flush in said clamping bar, and a'hinge lug unitary witheaoh lock.

.4. As a new article of manufacture, an independent self-contained look adapted to be let into the clamping bar of a loose leaf binderand to grip a postof the binder, 'sai'd lock comprising a frame, a swinging clutch pivoted in the-side walls of said frame and having an opening near one end adapted'to grip a post therein, in combination with rethe top of the frame, and a hinge lug unitary with said frame; substantially as described.

5. In a loose leaf post binder, a solid clamping bar having holes extending clear leasing means for said clutch operable from In testimony whereof I have signedmy name to this specification.

CH RLES A. FIN EY. 

